Three points closer to UEFA EURO 2016

With a 0-1 victory over Belarus in their sixth game of qualification for UEFA EURO 2016, Spain managed to remain second in Group C, with 12 points, and maintain the pressure on Slovakia, the leaders on 15 points.

The sensations left by the Spanish side in the first-half were of confidence and solidity in all areas. Belarus were overrun in many moments of the game. Despite a number of fine moves and creating danger, Del Bosque’s men couldn’t finish their chances until just before half-time when, after a free-kick, David Silva controlled the ball and scored on the half-turn to put Spain in front with his third goal of the qualifying campaign. The home side’s best chance was an attack which Iker Casillas smothered inside his box.

The pattern changed in the second-half with more excitement as the Belarus team began to dominate. The lack of pressure from Spain, with which they started the match, allowed their opponents back into the game and they had a number of dangerous chances through Sergei Kornilenko and Maksim Bordachev. The Spanish goalkeeper blocked all the efforts to keep a clean sheet and, despite the fact the attack led by Álvaro Morata, Cesc Fàbregas and Pedro Rodríguez couldn’t add to their advantage, the 0-1 result was enough to take another step towards UEFA EURO 2016 and continue putting pressure on the leaders in their group.